Oxford college boosts intake by 10% to create new places for the poor

Oxford’s new vice-chancellor, Louise Richardson, has said that the university must do better in recruiting more students from low-income familiesTom Pilston/The Times

An Oxford college is increasing its undergraduate intake by 10 per cent to include a greater number of poor or disadvantaged students.

University College will reserve the additional places for applicants who come from a poor area, who attended a school with low rates of progression to higher education, or who have been in care. They must still be predicted to achieve the same A-level results as other candidates, which are typically A*AA or AAA, and will otherwise apply in the normal way.

The initiative, which starts from autumn next year, is the second recent innovation by an Oxford college to broaden admissions.

Lady Margaret Hall announced plans in April to offer places to 12 students from under-represented backgrounds even if they did not have…